An airborne retransmission kit from Lithuanian firm RSI Europe aims to overcome a tactical limitation of first-person view (FPV) drone operations in contested environments.
Called the Drone Repeater Kit (DRK), the system pairs a Repeater Unit (RTK) mounted on a carrier drone with the Mini Antenna Rack (MAR) operating from the ground.
Together, they lift communications above battlefield obstacles, allowing operations to continue where ground-based antennas would otherwise lose connectivity.
The setup supports communications beyond 25 kilometers (15.5 miles), expanding the distance at which FPV drones can be operated while maintaining stable control and video links.
“What the DRK gives an FPV team is the ability to operate from concealed positions and still maintain a stable link beyond terrain obstacles,” said Martynas Antanaitis, product manager at RSI Europe.
“The repeater goes where the team can’t — over a hill, above a treeline, into clean line-of-sight — while the operators stay where they’re safe.”
The system is already deployed by Ukrainian forces and is also in service with the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
RTK Modular Repeater
Without its antennas, the RTK is roughly the size of a compact field radio, measuring 250 by 68 by 65 millimeters (9.8 by 2.7 by 2.6 inches) and weighing 804 grams (1.77 pounds).
It features a universal mounting interface and a modular architecture that supports interchangeable video transmitters, receivers, control links, and antennas.
A swappable battery powers the repeater for 40 to 60 minutes per charge, with an eight-level battery status indicator. Two battery sets are included.
MAR Antenna Module
The compact MAR measures 214 x 172 x 98 millimeters (8.4 x 6.8 x 3.9 inches) and is built to withstand dust, rain, and temporary immersion in water through separate protection ratings for its enclosure and external connections.
According to RSI Europe, testing showed the unit remained operational after 26 drops from 1.2 meters (3.9 feet).
